A Detailed Guide to Growing and Caring for the Branching Mesemb (Drosanthemum) Succulent
Growing succulents not only improves a person's cultivation, but also changes a person's temperament and elevates a person's taste, because although succulents appear to grow quickly, each growth stage actually requires a great deal of time and effort, and form-based beauty is the highest standard in succulent growing.
How to grow the branching mesemb
1. Light
The branching mesemb likes warm sunlight, but it cannot be exposed to scorching sun, so in summer be sure to shade the seedlings and give them ventilation. When the weather is extremely hot, you can spray some water around them to keep the air humid, and you can place a water tray under the bottom of the pot to keep the base of the pot moist. In the cold winter, the branching mesemb should also enjoy sufficient light, so move it to a corner where it can see sunlight, and at the same time be careful to maintain the moisture of the potting soil.
2. Fertilizing
Fertilize the branching mesemb seeds one to two months after they sprout. During fertilizing, be careful to dilute the purchased fertilizer as much as possible, and choose the immersion irrigation method for fertilizing; it is also fine not to fertilize at first. After the branching mesemb seedlings come up, in order to let the young plants absorb enough nutrients for growth, they should be divided into separate pots in a timely manner. Also note that after dividing into pots, do not water the seedlings right away; water only after one week.
3. Soil
The soil used for sowing the branching mesemb is loose and airy in texture, and for care it needs soil with good water retention. The soil is best as a mixed soil, and the mixed soil can be composed of a blend of nutrient soil, coal ash, sand, plant ash, and perlite, in a ratio of 4:4:2:1:1; alternatively, nutrient soil, vermiculite, and perlite can be mixed in a ratio of 4:6:1.
Growing methods and precautions for the branching mesemb succulent
1. Choosing a flower pot
When choosing a sowing pot for the branching mesemb, it is best to choose a tile pot with good breathability rather than a ceramic flower pot. This is because only when the flower pot is breathable does the potting soil dry out easily, which is good for seed germination. If you cannot find a tile pot, you can also choose an earthenware pot. Once the sowing pot is ready, put soil into it; the thickness of the soil placed in the pot should be controlled at around eight to ten cm, and two to three cm of rim should be left empty.
2. Soil preparation
The soil used for sowing the branching mesemb should be loose and airy in texture with good water retention. The soil is best as a mixed soil, and the mixed soil can be composed of nutrient soil, coal ash, sand, plant ash, and perlite, in a ratio of 4:4:2:1:1; alternatively, nutrient soil, vermiculite, and perlite can be mixed in a ratio of 4:6:1.
3. Sowing method
Before sowing the branching mesemb, first spread a layer of sand evenly over the surface of the soil, then moisten the sand with a spray bottle, and next scatter the seeds evenly on the sand. Because the seeds of the branching mesemb are very small, you can also first mix the seeds with fine sand and then sow. To improve the germination rate, the seeds need to be sown somewhat densely, and after sowing there is no need to cover with soil.
4. Seedling-stage management
After the branching mesemb seeds germinate, because the seedlings are rather fragile, they must be carefully managed. During the germination period and even the seedling stage of the branching mesemb, excessive moisture should be strictly avoided to prevent the plants from rotting. Watering should be based on whether the soil is dry, and you must never water directly, lest the plants be drowned; instead, use the immersion irrigation method, letting water slowly seep into the soil and gradually moisten the potting soil from the small holes at the bottom of the pot. Sometimes the roots of the branching mesemb seedlings grow up to the surface of the soil, and then the seedling roots need to be gently buried back into the soil.
5. Sunlight management
The branching mesemb likes sufficient sunlight but cannot be exposed to scorching sun, so in summer be sure to shade the seedlings. When the weather is extremely hot, you can place a water tray under the bottom of the flower pot and fill it with water to keep the base of the pot moist. In the cold winter, move the branching mesemb to a corner where it can see sunlight, and keep the potting soil slightly moist.
6. Fertilizing management
The branching mesemb seeds can be fertilized one to two months after they sprout. Note that the purchased fertilizer should be diluted as much as possible, still using the immersion irrigation method for fertilizing; if you have no experience with fertilizing, you can also refrain from fertilizing at first. After many branching mesemb seedlings have grown, in order to let the young plants absorb enough nutrients for growth, they should be divided into separate pots in a timely manner. The seedlings that have been divided into pots need to be watered only after one week.
The difference between Monilaria and the branching mesemb
There is still a fairly obvious difference between the branching mesemb and Monilaria. Monilaria grows rather slowly and has sparse leaves that look like rabbit ears, but the branching mesemb always tends to form clusters, has very many leaves, and they all grow on the branches, so seen this way, the difference between Monilaria and the branching mesemb is still very obvious, and it is relatively easy for everyone to tell them apart.
Does the branching mesemb bloom
The branching mesemb does bloom, and a well-grown branching mesemb generally blooms in two years.
Like most succulents, the branching mesemb is also a succulent that blooms, and with careful cultivation it can bloom in about two years, so growing succulents is actually something with a lot to look forward to; planting and raising succulents is in fact sowing hope.